Paul C. Castle

Precooling can prevent the reduction of self-paced exercise intensity in the heat

PURPOSE This study investigated the effects of precooling on performance and pacing during self-paced endurance cycling in the heat and, further, the effects of cooling on contractile function as a mechanism for performance changes. METHODS After familiarization, eight male cyclists performed two randomized 40-min time trials on a cycle ergometer in 33 degrees C. Before the time trials, participants underwent either a 20-min lower-body cold-water immersion procedure or no cooling intervention. Before and after the intervention and the time trial, voluntary force (maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)), superimposed force (SIF), evoked twitch force (peak twitch force (Pf)), muscle temperature, and blood metabolites were measured. Further, measures of core and skin temperature and HR were recorded before, during, and after cooling and time trial. RESULTS Results indicated that cycling performance was improved with precooling (198 +/- 25 vs 178 +/- 26 W for precooling and control, respectively; P = 0.05). Although core, muscle, skin, and mean body temperatures were lower in the cooling condition until the 20th minute (P < 0.05), performance did not differ until the last 10 min of the time trial, by which time no differences in physiological measures were present. Further, while MVC and SIF were reduced postexercise in both conditions, MVC, SIF, and Pf were not different between conditions preexercise or postexercise. CONCLUSION In conclusion, a precooling intervention improved self-paced endurance exercise; however, the improvement in performance became evident after measured physiological differences induced by precooling had dissipated. Further, the lack of difference between conditions in MVC, SIF, or Pf indicates that improvements in performance did not result from an improvement in contractile function, suggesting that improvements may result from other mechanisms such as muscle recruitment.

Aerobic capacity and peak power output of elite quadriplegic games players

Background: Participation in wheelchair sports such as tennis and rugby enables people with quadriplegia to compete both individually and as a team at the highest level. Both sports are dominated by frequent, intermittent, short term power demands superimposed on a background of aerobic activity. Objective: To gain physiological profiles of highly trained British quadriplegic athletes, and to examine the relation between aerobic and sprint capacity. Methods: Eight male quadriplegic athletes performed an arm crank exercise using an ergometer fitted with a Schoberer Rad Messtechnik (SRM) powermeter. The sprint test consisted of three maximum-effort sprints of five seconds duration against a resistance of 2%, 3%, and 4% of body mass. The highest power output obtained was recorded (PPO). Peak oxygen consumption (V̇o2peak), peak heart rate (HRpeak), and maximal power output (POaer) were determined. Results: Mean POaer was 67.7 (16.2) W, mean V̇o2peak was 0.96 (0.17) litres/min, and HRpeak was 134 (19) beats/min for the group. There was high variability among subjects. Peak power over the five second sprint for the group was 220 (62) W. There was a significant correlation between V̇o2peak (litres/min) and POaer (W) (r  =  0.74, p<0.05). Conclusions: These British quadriplegic athletes have relatively high aerobic fitness when compared with the available literature. Moreover, the anaerobic capacity of these athletes appeared to be relatively high compared with paraplegic participants.

Acute hypoxia and exercise improve insulin sensitivity (SI2*) in individuals with type 2 diabetes

Hypoxia has been shown to increase glucose uptake in skeletal muscle using the contraction‐stimulated pathway, independent of the actions of insulin. Yet, the same stress has also been linked with causing insulin resistance and hyperglycaemia. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of acute hypoxia with and without exercise on insulin sensitivity (

The efficacy of the self-paced V̇O2max test to measure maximal oxygen uptake in treadmill running.

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Heat acclimation improves intermittent sprinting in the heat but additional pre-cooling offers no further ergogenic effect

) in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Intermittent exercise with and without hypoxia improves insulin sensitivity in individuals with Type 2 diabetes

The novel self-paced, cycle-based maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) test (SPV) has been shown to produce higher V̇O2max values than standard graded exercise test (GXT) protocols. This study sought to ascertain whether these observations would also be apparent in a self-paced, treadmill-based test design. Fourteen trained male runners performed a standard GXT on a motorised treadmill and a self-paced V̇O2max test on a nonmotorised treadmill in a counter-balanced design. The GXT included a plateau verification and was designed to last between 8 and 12 min. The self-paced test included 5 × 2 min stages and allowed participants to set their own running speed based on fixed increments in rating of perceived exertion. Significantly higher V̇O2max values (t[13] = 3.71, p = 0.003) were achieved in the self-paced test (64.4 ± 7.3 mL · kg(-1) · min(-1)) compared with the GXT (61.3 ± 7.3 mL · kg(-1) · min(-1)), and 13 of the 14 participants achieved the same or higher V̇O2max values in the self-paced test. Higher (p = 0.01) maximum heart rates were observed in the GXT (191 ± 10 beats · min(-1) vs. 187 ± 7 beats · min(-1)), but no differences were observed in any other recorded variables. The self-paced V̇O2max test may provide a more valid means of measuring V̇O2max than the GXT and suggests that a V̇O2 plateau during a GXT does not always signify achievement of a definitive V̇O2max. These results provide further support that self-paced V̇O2max testing produces higher values for maximal oxygen uptake.

Acute acetaminophen (paracetamol) ingestion improves time to exhaustion during exercise in the heat

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 10 days of heat acclimation with and without pre-cooling on intermittent sprint exercise performance in the heat. Eight males completed three intermittent cycling sprint protocols before and after 10 days of heat acclimation. Before acclimation, one sprint protocol was conducted in control conditions (21.8 ± 2.2°C, 42.8 ± 6.7% relative humidity) and two sprint protocols in hot, humid conditions (33.3 ± 0.6°C, 52.2 ± 6.8% relative humidity) in a randomized order. One hot, humid condition was preceded by 20 min of thigh pre-cooling with ice packs (−16.2 ± 4.5°C). After heat acclimation, the two hot, humid sprint protocols were repeated. Before heat acclimation, peak power output declined in the heat (P < 0.05) but pre-cooling prevented this. Ten days of heat acclimation reduced resting rectal temperature from 37.8 ± 0.3°C to 37.4 ± 0.3°C (P < 0.01). When acclimated, peak power output increased by ∼2% (P < 0.05, main effect) and no reductions in individual sprint peak power output were observed. Additional pre-cooling offered no further ergogenic effect. Unacclimated athletes competing in the heat should pre-cool to prevent reductions in peak power output, but heat acclimate for an increased peak power output.

Cooling strategies improve intermittent sprint performance in the heat of athletes with tetraplegia

CONTEXT Hypoxia and muscle contraction stimulate glucose transport activity in vitro. Exercise and hypoxia have additive effects on insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetics (T2D). OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to examine the effectiveness of intermittent exercise with and without hypoxia on acute- and moderate-term glucose kinetics and insulin sensitivity in T2D. SETTING The study was conducted at a university research center. DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS, AND INTERVENTIONS Eight male T2D patients completed the following: 1) 60 min of continuous exercise at 90% lactate threshold in hypoxia (HyEx60); 2) intermittent exercise at 120% lactate threshold, separated by periods of passive recovery (5:5 min) in hypoxia [Hy5:5; O₂ ∼ 14.7 (0.2)%]; and 3) intermittent exercise (5:5 min) at 120% lactate threshold in normoxia (O₂ ∼ 20.93%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Glucose appearance and glucose disappearance, using an adapted non-steady-state one-compartment model were measured. Homeostasis models of insulin resistance (HOMA(IR)), fasting insulin resistance index (FIRI), and β-cell function were calculated 24 and 48 h after exercise conditions. RESULTS Glucose disappearance increased from baseline (1.85 mg/kg · min⁻¹) compared with 24 h (2.01 min/kg · min⁻¹) after HyEx60 (P = 0.031). No difference was noted for both Hy5:5 (P = 0.064) and normoxia (P = 0.385). Hy5:5 demonstrated improvements in HOMA(IR) from baseline [d 1, 6.20 (0.40)] when comparisons were made with d 2 [4.83 (0.41)] (P = 0.0013). HOMA(IR) and FIRI improved in the 24 h (HOMA(IR), P = 0.002; FIRI, P = 0.003), remaining reduced 48 h after HyEx60 (HOMA(IR), P = 0.028; and FIRI, P = 0.034). CONCLUSION HyEx60 offered the greatest improvements in acute and moderate-term glucose control in T2D. Intermittent exercise stimulated glucose disposal and improved post-exercise insulin resistance, which was enhanced when exercise was combined with hypoxia (Hy5:5). The data suggest a use of hypoxic exercise in treatment of T2D.

Analysis of Pacing Strategy Selection in Elite 400-m Freestyle Swimming

•  What is the central question of this study? Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is an analgesic and antipyretic, which has been shown to improve self‐paced cycling performance through a reduction in pain. We sought to ascertain whether acetaminophen could improve time to exhaustion during exercise in the heat through its antipyretic action. •  What is the main finding and its importance? An acute dose of acetaminophen allowed participants to cycle significantly longer in hot conditions by a mean of 4 min (+17%). This was accompanied by significantly lower core, skin and body temperature, and participants found the exercise less of a thermal strain. These findings suggest that acetaminophen may reduce the thermal challenge of exercise in hot conditions.

Exposure to hot and cold environmental conditions does not affect the decision making ability of soccer referees following an intermittent sprint protocol.

Background Precooling has been shown to enhance performance in repeated sprint exercise in able-bodied subjects in a hot environment. Spinal cord injury causes thermoregulatory impairment with a detrimental effect on performance. This study assessed whether cooling strategies before and during exercise in the heat enhances sprint performance in athletes with tetraplegia. Methods Eight male athletes with tetraplegia performed intermittent arm crank exercise in the heat (32.0°C (0.1°C); humidity, 50% (0.1%)) for a maximum of 60 min or until exhaustion. Trials involved a no-cooling control (CON), precooling (PRE) or cooling during exercise (DUR). Each intermittent sprint protocol consisted of varied periods of passive rest, maximal sprinting and active recovery. Results Both PRE and DUR cooling strategies improved the ability of the athletes to repeatedly perform high-intensity sprints, with times to exhaustion (TTE), whereas during the CON trial, athletes demonstrated a reduction in the total number of sprints and TTE (47.2 (10.8), 52.8 (5.8) and 36.2 (9.6) min for CON, PRE and DUR, respectively). Core temperature was significantly higher for CON (37.3°C (0.3°C)) when compared with both PRE and DUR (36.5°C (0.6°C) and 37.0°C (0.5°C), respectively, p<0.01). Ratings of perceived exertion and thermal sensation upon exhaustion or completion were not different. Conclusions Athletes with tetraplegia should use a precooling or during-exercise cooling strategy specific to the characteristics of their sport when exercising in hot conditions.